Gwanak-gu Establishes 'Lifelong Learning Mid- to Long-Term Development Plan' for New Leap Forward

Selected 6 Core Tasks and 15 Promotion Tasks to Transform Entire Gwanak-gu into Lifelong Learning Campus... Expanding Lifelong Learning Support for Educationally Disadvantaged Groups, Establishing 7 New Projects Including Non-Face-to-Face Lifelong Learning System

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) has established the 'Lifelong Learning Mid- to Long-term Development Plan (2021~2025)' to develop into a sustainable lifelong learning city amid rapidly changing social conditions.

Since being designated as Seoul's first lifelong learning city by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in 2004, the district joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016. Through this mid- to long-term development plan, it has laid the groundwork for a new leap forward.

The research project for this lifelong learning mid- to long-term development plan was conducted over six months from March to August. Despite difficulties in face-to-face meetings due to COVID-19, opinions from external experts, stakeholders, and residents were gathered, and the current status was analyzed and diagnosed to explore development measures.

As a result, under the new vision of 'Together, the Best Lifelong Learning Campus Gwanak,' the entire Gwanak-gu will be transformed into a lifelong learning campus with three major strategies: ▲expanding learning support for marginalized groups ▲specializing lifelong learning by life cycle ▲providing digital lifelong learning based on non-face-to-face platforms ▲discovering and creating learning-type jobs ▲reorganizing lifelong learning systems and frameworks ▲establishing lifelong learning campuses. Six core tasks and 15 detailed promotion tasks were derived, and a total budget of 5.2 billion KRW will be gradually invested by 2025.

First, to ensure lifelong learning without educational blind spots, opportunities for participation by marginalized groups will be expanded. A legal foundation has been established to support education for the disabled, who have been excluded from lifelong education, and customized learning will be provided for people with disabilities, their families, and workers.

The existing lifelong learning targets by life cycle will add the youth generation, which accounts for 40% of the residents, offering various programs considering their social and economic backgrounds.

To improve accessibility, youth living areas will be operated alongside non-face-to-face online platforms such as Instagram Live, Zoom, and YouTube.

In particular, next year, a lifelong learning media room will be established to build a Gwanak-style non-face-to-face lifelong learning system. Customized non-face-to-face courses will be operated in preparation for the post-COVID-19 era, and external distribution channels usable for non-face-to-face courses on platforms like YouTube and Facebook will be continuously discovered and delivered.

The learning-type job linkage program is an educational course developed in collaboration with local artists and young entrepreneurs. Students will participate in the production and sales process of local promotional products to ensure that the results of lifelong learning lead to actual economic activities.

Various local learning spaces will be discovered, starting with eight next year, and by 2025, 12 lifelong learning campuses will be established. To operate lifelong learning campuses, learning activists with expertise will be trained and supported to activate lifelong learning programs by base and region.

Additionally, to ensure successful project implementation, a monitoring system and performance management framework will be established for lifelong learning participants in the district.

Park Junhee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, stated, “By establishing a customized lifelong learning mid- to long-term development plan amid the COVID-19 situation, we will build an inclusive lifelong learning system where no one is left behind. We will continue to utilize excellent local resources and reflect the diverse learning needs of residents to create a lifelong learning campus that prepares for tomorrow.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.